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You are here > Home > Things to Do > Auckland Palace - The Auckland Project

Auckland Palace - The Auckland Project

From £30.00
Market Place
Bishop Auckland
County Durham
DL14 7NR

Tel: +44 01388 743797

Email

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Add Auckland Palace  - The Auckland Project to your Itinerary

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Throne room at Auckland Palace
  • Throne room at Auckland Palace
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About

Positioned high above the meandering River Wear, Auckland Palace was once home to the Prince Bishops of Durham, and was the place where they entertained, hunted and worshipped.

These were incredibly powerful men. They were given exceptional powers by the Norman kings of England, as well as the Church, and governed vast swathes of North East England.

Auckland Palace was built to host lavish medieval celebrations and hunting parties, to entertain royalty and impress visitors with the bishops’ power and wealth. From Bishop Auckland, the Prince Bishops ventured forth to broker royal marriages, lead armies into battle and advise kings.

Over the centuries, the Prince Bishops became increasingly wealthy. They used this money to transform the palace into a palace that showed off their high status. St Peter’s Chapel is the perfect example: Bishop Cosin turned the medieval Great Hall into the largest private chapel in Europe, a beautiful space to inspire people to feel the glory of God.

Art and Architecture
The Palace was transformed once again in the 1790s, when Bishop Barrington commissioned the renowned English architect James Wyatt to create a succession of magnificent state rooms.

These rooms contained delicate plasterwork and sumptuous furnishings in the fashionable Gothic style.
Among the finest surviving examples of Wyatt’s work in the country, they form a grand processional route through the Palace to the Throne Room.

These interiors have been conserved and visitors can marvel at Wyatt’s original scheme as they explore the Palace.
Are you intrigued?

You can find hundreds of years of hidden history within these walls. Come and walk these northern corridors of power and let the Prince Bishops tell you their stories.

The Zurbarans
The Palace is also home to another family of well-known residents. Jacob and his Twelve Sons, an impressive series of paintings by the Spanish master Francisco de Zurbarán, have hung in the Long Dining Room since they were purchased by Bishop Trevor in 1756.

Bishop Trevor Gallery
The Bishop Trevor Gallery is named after Richard Trevor, who was Bishop of Durham from 1752 to 1771. Bishop Trevor played an important role in the story of Auckland Palace, having purchased the series of paintings of Jacob and his Twelve Sons by Francisco de Zurbarán, which have hung in the Long Dining Room at the Palace for over 250 years.  

The gallery is housed in a series of rooms that were once Bishop Trevor’s private apartments. Designed by John Carr (1723 – 1807), who was one of the most renowned architects of the day, they were originally known as the North Apartments and look out across the River Wear in the valley below. It houses a programme of special exhibitions of fine art, with a focus on European painting from the medieval period to the present day. The displays include masterpieces on loan from private collections and institutions.  

View our accessibility information
AccessAble Guide

Book Tickets

Prices

Ticket TypeTicket Tariff
Adult£30.00 per ticket type
Child 5-15 Yrs£13.50 per ticket type
Family 1 Adult (up to 3 children 5 -15)£45.00 per ticket type
Family 2 Adults (up to 3 children 5 -15)£75.00 per ticket type

Entry is now available exclusively through the Bishop’s Key, our new pass that grants unlimited access to all our attractions for 12 months from the date of purchase - offering greater value and flexibility for your visits.
For those who currently hold an Unlimited Pass, your pass is still valid and will be moved over to the Bishop’s Key card when you next visit!
People living in households with a DL4, DL5, DL13, DL14, DL15, DL16, or DL17 postcode can also enjoy an additional 20% discount thanks to our Bishop’s Key Pass. Proof of address is required when buying your pass and therefore must be purchased in person at Auckland Tower. Valid only for Bishop’s Key passes, not Bishop’s Key Plus.
Looking for something extra? The Bishop’s Key Plus includes exclusive perks, including early bird bookings for signature events, 10% off food and drinks at The Auckland Project, and free early and late checkout at The Park Head Hotel.
Bishop's Key Plus Adult: £45.00
Bishop's Key Plus Family 1 Adult and 3 Children aged 5-15: £65.00
Bishop's Key Plus Family 2 Adults and 3 Children aged 5-15: £95.00

Awards

  • Regional and MiscellaneousVisitEngland Gold Accolade VisitEngland Gold Accolade 2024
  • Regional and MiscellaneousTrip Advisor Travellers Choice 2023 Trip Advisor Travellers Choice 2023 2023
  • Visit EnglandVisitor Ready Visitor Ready 2024
  • Regional and MiscellaneousWeardale Visitor Network Member Weardale Visitor Network Member 2025

TripAdvisor

Access Information

Opening Times

2025 (19 Feb 2025 - 24 Dec 2025)
DayTimes
Wednesday - Sunday10:30 - 16:00

* Last entry 3.30pm

Map & Directions

Map Link

View Map

Highlights...

Auckland Palace exterior with lawn area to foregroundThe Auckland Project, Bishop AucklandThe Auckland Project is unique collection of heritage attractions, galleries, gardens and parkland in Bishop Auckland, at the heart of County Durham.

External view of the Mining Art GalleryMining Art Gallery - The Auckland Project, Bishop AucklandWith three permanent rooms and one temporary exhibition space on the ground floor, the gallery explores working life in the coal mines through original artefacts and artworks by prominent mining artists such as Tom McGuinness and Norman Cornish.

Auckland Tower, blue skiesAuckland Tower - The Auckland Project, Bishop AucklandAuckland Tower is the perfect place to get a feel for The Auckland Project, the stunning setting, and to pick up everything you’ll need for your day of exploration.

Cakes on display at the Bishop's KitchenBishop’s Kitchen at Auckland Palace - The Auckland Project, Bishop AucklandThe Bishop’s Kitchen sits at the heart of Auckland Palace, offering a warm welcome and a delicious range of tempting treats.

Durham CathedralCamino Inglés – the English Way: Walking Route, Durham

Auckland TowerThe Way of Life, DarlingtonThe Way of Life is one wondrous route: healing waters, one of England’s oldest churches and a palatial castle where Prince Bishops once resided, plus places where St Cuthbert made miracles occur.

External view of The Spanish GalleryThe Spanish Gallery - The Auckland Project, Bishop AucklandThe Spanish Gallery is unique in Britain, telling the story of the Spanish Golden Age in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Exterior image of The Faith Museum at The Auckland Project. The Faith Museum - The Auckland Project, Bishop AucklandSitting in the historic Grade 1 listed Scotland Wing of Auckland Palace, The Faith Museum explores the myriad ways in which faith has shaped lives and communities across Britain, inviting visitors to consider how people across history have encountered faith.

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